How to make a tote bag

Welcome! This is a beautiful and practical project that results in a sturdy, professional-looking tote bag. The zippered top adds security, and the boxed bottom gives the bag a structured shape, making it perfect for carrying books, groceries, or crafting supplies. This pattern is well-suited for an intermediate sewer who is comfortable with zipper installation and creating a bag with a defined bottom.

Materials

Main Fabric: A durable, woven fabric with a bold pattern like canvas or twill (about a half-yard).
Lining Fabric: A coordinating solid-colored cotton or canvas (about a half-yard).
Fusible Interfacing: Medium-weight interfacing to give the bag structure and body (about a half-yard).
Zipper: One 16-inch or longer bag zipper.
Handles: Two strips of durable webbing or fabric straps, each about 20 inches long.
Thread: All-purpose thread that matches your fabric.
Basic sewing supplies: Sewing machine, scissors, pins or clips, measuring tape, and an iron.

Key Concepts & Cutting Guide

This pattern is for a tote bag approximately 14 inches wide by 10 inches tall. The key to this design is creating a separate zippered top panel and a main body with boxed corners.

Cutting List:

Main Body (Outer Fabric): Cut two rectangles measuring 14″ wide x 11″ tall.
Main Body (Lining Fabric): Cut two rectangles measuring 14″ wide x 11″ tall.
Main Body (Interfacing): Cut two rectangles measuring 14″ wide x 11″ tall.
Zipper Panel (Outer Fabric): Cut two rectangles measuring 14″ wide x 2″ tall.
Zipper Panel (Lining Fabric): Cut two rectangles measuring 14″ wide x 2″ tall.
Handles: Two strips of webbing or fabric, each 20″ long.

Sewing Instructions

Note: Use a 1/2-inch seam allowance throughout the pattern unless otherwise noted.

Step 1: Prepare the Fabric and Handles

Press the interfacing onto the wrong side of your two Main Body (Outer Fabric) pieces.
Take your two handles. Pin one handle to the center of the top of one of the Main Body (Outer Fabric) pieces, about 2 inches in from each side. Sew them securely in place using a box with an “X” inside it for extra strength. Repeat for the second handle and the other main body piece.

Step 2: Create the Zipper Panel

Lay one of your Zipper Panel (Outer Fabric) pieces, right side up. Place your zipper, teeth up, along the top 14-inch edge.
Lay one of your Zipper Panel (Lining Fabric) pieces on top, wrong side up, aligning the top edges. Pin all three layers.
Using a zipper foot on your machine, sew a straight line along the edge.
Fold the fabric pieces away from the zipper and press the seam. Topstitch along the seam.
Repeat this process for the other side of the zipper, attaching the remaining two zipper panel pieces.
You should now have a long strip with the zipper in the middle and outer fabric on one side and lining on the other.

Step 3: Construct the Bag Body and Lining

Take your two Main Body (Outer Fabric) pieces. Place them right sides together and pin along the side and bottom edges. Sew along these three sides.
To create the boxed corners, pinch the corners to form a triangle, aligning the side seam with the bottom seam. Measure about 2 inches from the corner point and sew a straight line across. Trim the excess fabric. Repeat for the other corner.
Repeat this entire process for the lining fabric, but leave a 4-inch opening on the bottom seam for turning.

Step 4: Attach the Zipper Panel

Find the center of the zipper panel at the top, and the center of the main body at the top.
With the outer bag turned inside out, pin the zipper panel to the top opening of the bag, right sides together. Pin all the way around, aligning the side seams.
Sew the zipper panel to the bag. Go slowly to ensure a smooth, secure seam.

Step 5: Final Assembly

Turn the main bag body right side out.
Now, take your lining bag, which is still inside out, and slip it inside the main bag.
Pin the remaining free edge of the lining to the inside of the zipper seam, hiding all the raw edges.
Carefully hand-sew the lining to the zipper seam with a slip stitch for an invisible and clean finish.
Gently pull the bag through the opening you left in the bottom of the lining. Push out the corners and shape the bag. Hand-sew the opening in the lining closed.